Advanced Data Display Translations

Data display is a critical component for T&E environments in aircraft, space and energy systems. Because telemetry functions associated with these systems produce too much data for a single person to comprehend, data display--customizable display objects, including strip charts, bar charts, vertical meters, round gauges, cross plots, tabular displays, orientation displays, and bit maps--is critical in presenting this information in an understandable format.

In this effort, KBSI designed, developed, and deployed an advanced component-based Data Display Translation Framework (DDTF) that uses the Data Display Markup Language (DDML), an XML-based neutral format also developed by KBSI, as the inter-lingua between the data display languages supported by different vendors.

DDML is both generic enough to encompass various vendor-specific data display formats while also being unified (not a loose grouping of XML-ized vendor formats). In addition, it is required to support reusable concepts (such as variables and data sources), be robust (e.g., use of cross-references), and support future objects without warranting a change of the DDML format.

DDML and the software components of DDTF will not only enable data display model interchange across applications and the reuse of models across DOD T&E centers, but will also provide building blocks for the development of automated real-time data visualization systems.

This material is based upon work supported by the AFFTC/PKD under Contract No. F04611-02-C-0010.  Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the AFFTC/PKD.